1-1 By: Noriega (Senate Sponsor - Truan) H.C.R. No. 209 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001; 1-3 May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran 1-4 Affairs and Military Installations; May 10, 2001, reported 1-5 favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 10, 2001, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-8 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature is pleased to commend the 1-9 members of the Texas National Guard's 49th Armored Division for 1-10 their exemplary service in Bosnia during 2000; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Following 18 months of intensive training, the 49th 1-12 deployed to Bosnia and assumed control of Task Force Eagle on March 1-13 7, 2000; there the division's guard members led the safest-ever 1-14 rotation of peacekeepers, compiling more than 14,000 flight hours 1-15 and 1.24 million road miles without a single injury accident; and 1-16 WHEREAS, During the 49th's command, more refugees returned to 1-17 their prewar homes than during any other comparable period in the 1-18 history of the more than five-year operation, and 85 square miles 1-19 of mine fields were cleared at a faster rate than ever before; 1-20 moreover, the rivaling factions of the Entity Armed Forces actually 1-21 cooperated on the construction of bridges, roads, and buildings; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, Due in large part to the success of the 49th, the 1-24 United States Army has announced that six of the next eight 1-25 Stabilization Force rotations will be led by members of the 1-26 National Guard; and 1-27 WHEREAS, The efforts of the men and women of the 49th Armored 1-28 Division were instrumental in helping thousands of Bosnians rebuild 1-29 their lives and their country, and for their distinguished service 1-30 they are most deserving of legislative recognition at this time; 1-31 now, therefore, be it 1-32 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-33 hereby applaud the members of the 49th Armored Division of the 1-34 Texas National Guard for their impressive peacekeeping efforts in 1-35 Bosnia; and, be it further 1-36 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 1-37 prepared for the members of the 49th Armored Division as an 1-38 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and 1-39 Senate. 1-40 * * * * *